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Lileana Blain-Cruz

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BIO

LCT: Pipeline; the LCT3 productions of Marys Seacole (Obie Award), War (also Yale Rep); also Resident Director. Recent projects include Dreaming Zenzile (St. Louis Rep, McCarter, upcoming at NYTW/National Black Theatre); …(Iphigenia) (MASS MoCA, Arts Emerson, Kennedy Center); Hansel and Gretel (film for Houston Grand Opera); Anatomy of a Suicide (Atlantic); Fefu and Her Friends (TFANA); Girls (Yale Rep); Faust (Opera Omaha); The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World (Obie Award), Fabulation, or the Re-Education of Undine (Signature); Thunderbodies, Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. (Soho Rep); The House That Will Not Stand, Red Speedo (NYTW); Henry IV, Part One, Much Ado About Nothing (Oregon Shakespeare Festival); The Bluest Eye (The Guthrie); Salome (JACK); and Hollow Roots (the Under the Radar Festival at The Public Theater). 2021 Doris Duke Artist, 2020 Lincoln Center Emerging Artist, 2018 United States Artists Fellow. Upcoming: The Listeners (Opera Norway).

Photos

Productions

The Blood QuiltThe Blood Quilt
 
[Off-Broadway, 2024]
Director
FlexFlex
 
[Off-Broadway, 2023]
Director
White Girl in DangerWhite Girl in Danger
 
[Off-Broadway, 2023]
Director
The Skin of Our TeethThe Skin of Our Teeth
 
[Broadway, 2022]
Director
Anatomy of a SuicideAnatomy of a Suicide
 
[Off-Broadway, 2020]
Director
Fefu and Her FriendsFefu and Her Friends
 
[Off-Broadway, 2019]
Director
Marys SeacoleMarys Seacole
 
[Off-Broadway, 2019]
Director
Fabulation, or The Re-Education of UndineFabulation, or The Re-Education of Undine
 
[Off-Broadway, 2018]
Director
The House That Will Not StandThe House That Will Not Stand
 
[Off-Broadway, 2018]
Director
ActuallyActually
 
[Off-Broadway, 2017]
Director
ActuallyActually
 
[Williamstown, MA (Regional), 2017]
Director
PipelinePipeline
 
[Off-Broadway, 2017]
Director
WARWAR
 
[Off-Broadway, 2016]
Director
Joe Turner's Come and GoneJoe Turner's Come and Gone
 
[Broadway, 2009]
Assistant Director
Home
 
[Off-Broadway, 2008]
Assistant Director
Assistant Director

Awards and Nominations

Drama League Awards - 2023 - Outstanding Direction of a Musical

Lileana Blain-Cruz, Dreaming Zenzile

Drama League Awards - 2023 - Outstanding Direction of a Musical

Lileana Blain-Cruz, White Girl in Danger


winner
Drama League Awards - 2022 - Founders Award for Excellence in Directing

Lileana Blain-Cruz, The Skin Of Our Teeth

Tony Awards - 2022 - Best Direction of a Play

Lileana Blain-Cruz, The Skin of Our Teeth


winner
Obie Awards - 2019 - Special Citations

Lileana Blain Cruz, Marys Seacole

The Lortels - 2018 - Outstanding Director

Lileana Blain-Cruz, Pipeline


winner
Obie Awards - 2017 - Directing

Lileana Blain-Cruz, The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World

Videos

More Videos

News


KING JAMES Vermont Premiere to Open at Northern Stage Photo
KING JAMES Vermont Premiere to Open at Northern Stage
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 16, 2024

​​​​​​​Northern Stage will kick off the new year with the Vermont premiere of King James by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Obie Award winner Rajiv Joseph. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.
Mark Bedard, Cecil Blutcher & More to Star in BUST World Premiere Photo
Mark Bedard, Cecil Blutcher & More to Star in BUST World Premiere
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 12, 2024

Alliance Theatre and Goodman Theatre revealed the cast and creative team of their upcoming world-premiere co-production, BUST. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets!
Photos: Kelli O’Hara, Paulo Szot & More at SOUTH PACIFIC LCT Reunion Photo
Photos: Kelli O’Hara, Paulo Szot & More at SOUTH PACIFIC LCT Reunion
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 10, 2024

On Monday, December 9, almost the entire original company of Lincoln Center Theater’s 2008 Tony Award-winning production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s SOUTH PACIFIC reunited on the Beaumont stage for the first time 16 years later. See photos
Broadway Buying Guide: December 2, 2024- HELL'S KITCHEN, REDWOOD Get a Parade Boost Photo
Broadway Buying Guide: December 2, 2024- HELL'S KITCHEN, REDWOOD Get a Parade Boost
by Team BWW - Dec 2, 2024

Looking for the best deals on Broadway shows? Welcome to our new weekly guide to the most popular shows listed on BroadwayWorld. Check out which shows are selling this week, December 2, 2024.
Photos: THE BLOOD QUILT  Opens At Lincoln Center Theater Photo
Photos: THE BLOOD QUILT  Opens At Lincoln Center Theater
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 22, 2024

Last night Lincoln Center Theater celebrated the opening night of THE BLOOD QUILT – a play by Katori Hall, directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz. See photos from the celebration!
Review Roundup: Katori Hall’s THE BLOOD QUILT Photo
Review Roundup: Katori Hall’s THE BLOOD QUILT
by Nicole Rosky - Nov 22, 2024

Lincoln Center Theater just celebrated opening night of Katori Hall’s THE BLOOD QUILT at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater. The production is directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz. Check out what the critics are saying about the new play here!
Video: THE BLOOD QUILT at Lincoln Center Theater First Look Photo
Video: THE BLOOD QUILT at Lincoln Center Theater First Look
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 20, 2024

The Lincoln Center Theater production of Katori Hall’s THE BLOOD QUILT is currently in previews. Get a first look at footage from the production and see how to purchase tickets.
SOUTH PACIFIC Benefit Reunion Will Honor Vivian Beaumont Allen, Mitzi E. Newhouse & C Photo
SOUTH PACIFIC Benefit Reunion Will Honor Vivian Beaumont Allen, Mitzi E. Newhouse & Claire Tow
by Nicole Rosky - Nov 18, 2024

Lincoln Center Theater’s Gala performance of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s SOUTH PACIFIC will honor the three extraordinary women for whom its three theaters are named: Vivian Beaumont Allen, Mitzi E. Newhouse, and Claire Tow.
Photos: THE BLOOD QUILT at Lincoln Center Theater Photo
Photos: THE BLOOD QUILT at Lincoln Center Theater
by Stephi Wild - Nov 7, 2024

The Lincoln Center Theater production of Katori Hall’s THE BLOOD QUILT is currently in previews at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater.  Check out all new production photos here!
LCT's THE BLOOD QUILT to Offer $39 Tickets Through Online Lottery Photo
LCT's THE BLOOD QUILT to Offer $39 Tickets Through Online Lottery
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 28, 2024

Lincoln Center Theater is launching an online ticket lottery for its production of Katori Hall’s THE BLOOD QUILT. Gathering at their childhood island home off the coast of Georgia, four sisters meet to create a family quilt to honor their recently deceased mother. Learn more about the production and see how to purchase discounted tickets.
Pre-Broadway Run of Prince's PURPLE RAIN Musical Delays World Premiere Photo
Pre-Broadway Run of Prince's PURPLE RAIN Musical Delays World Premiere
by Stephi Wild - Oct 23, 2024

A stage adaptation of Prince's film and album, Purple Rain, will make its World Premiere next year, but fans will have to wait a little bit longer for it than originally planned.
Review: Droning Overwhelms the Lives of THE LISTENERS in New Mazzoli-Vavrek Opera Photo
Review: Droning Overwhelms the Lives of THE LISTENERS in New Mazzoli-Vavrek Opera
by Richard Sasanow - Oct 3, 2024

It’s fascinating that within two weeks, as the new US opera season began in earnest, Northeast operagoers heard a pair of new (or new-ish) operas by well-known creators: the US premiere of THE LISTENERS at Opera Philadelphia, by Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek and the much-revised GROUNDED by Jeanine Tesori and George Brant, the gala opening night at the Met.
What's Opening Off-Broadway in Fall 2024 Photo
What's Opening Off-Broadway in Fall 2024
by Sidney Paterra - Oct 2, 2024

Check out a full list of what's opening Off-Broadway this fall! Productions will star big names including Neil Patrick Harris, Jane Krakowski, and many more! See what Off-Broadway has to offer and check out BroadwayWorld's complete list.
Photos: THE BLOOD QUILT Rehearsals at Lincoln Center Theater Photo
Photos: THE BLOOD QUILT Rehearsals at Lincoln Center Theater
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 30, 2024

Get a first look inside rehearsals for the Lincoln Center Theater production of THE BLOOD QUILT. The play is written by Katori Hall and directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz. Learn more about the production and see how to purchase tickets.
Cast Set for THE BLOOD QUILT By Katori Hall at Lincoln Center Theater Photo
Cast Set for THE BLOOD QUILT By Katori Hall at Lincoln Center Theater
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 12, 2024

Lincoln Center Theater has revealed the cast for its upcoming production of THE BLOOD QUILT, by Katori Hall, directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz. See who is starring and learn more about the production.
Jelani Remy, Emily Skeggs, and More Will Lead THE APPLE BOYS Industry Reading Photo
Jelani Remy, Emily Skeggs, and More Will Lead THE APPLE BOYS Industry Reading
by Stephi Wild - Sep 5, 2024

THE APPLE BOYS, a new fast-paced musical comedy set in Gilded Age Coney Island, with book by Jono Lyons and music and lyrics by 2017 Jonathan Larson Grant recipient Ben Bonnema, will have industry presentations on Monday, September 23 and Tuesday, September 24 in Manhattan at Ripley Grier 38th St. Studios.
Theatre For A New Audience Founder Jeffrey Horowitz To Retire Photo
Theatre For A New Audience Founder Jeffrey Horowitz To Retire
by Stephi Wild - Sep 4, 2024

Jeffrey Horowitz, Founder of Theatre for a New Audience, having led and grown the not-for-profit organization since 1979, will retire on August 31, 2025, at the end of TFANA's just-announced season of Shakespeare alongside plays by classical and contemporary playwrights.
New York Theatre Workshop Unveils 2024/25 2050 Administrative And Artistic Fellows Photo
New York Theatre Workshop Unveils 2024/25 2050 Administrative And Artistic Fellows
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 17, 2024

New York Theatre Workshop has revealed the 2024/25 2050 Administrative and Artistic Fellows, highlighting emerging talent in theatre administration and artistic fields. Learn more!
Further Details Revealed For PURPLE RAIN in Minneapolis
by Stephi Wild - Jun 21, 2024

Aadditional creative team members and performance dates have been announced for the pre-Broadway world premiere stage adaptation of Prince’s legendary film and album, PURPLE RAIN.
PURPLE RAIN Musical Unveils Additional Creative Team and Minneapolis Dates Photo
PURPLE RAIN Musical Unveils Additional Creative Team and Minneapolis Dates
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 20, 2024

Additional creative team members and performance dates have been revealed for the pre-Broadway world premiere stage adaptation of Prince’s legendary film and album, PURPLE RAIN. See how to purchase tickets.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What awards has Lileana Blain-Cruz been nominated for?

Outstanding Direction of a Musical (Drama League Awards) for Dreaming Zenzile, Outstanding Direction of a Musical (Drama League Awards) for White Girl in Danger, Founders Award for Excellence in Directing (Drama League Awards) for The Skin Of Our Teeth, Best Direction of a Play (Tony Awards) for The Skin of Our Teeth, Special Citations (Obie Awards) for Marys Seacole, Outstanding Director (The Lortels) for Pipeline and Directing (Obie Awards) for The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World.

What awards has Lileana Blain-Cruz won?

Lileana Blain-Cruz has won the Founders Award for Excellence in Directing at the Drama League Awards for The Skin Of Our Teeth. She also received Special Citations at the Obie Awards for Marys Seacole and won the Directing award at the Obie Awards for The Death of the Last Black Man in the Whole Entire World.

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